A seminar to provide information about farm leases will be held at the Wayne County Extension Office in Fairfield on Thursday, October 9, beginning at 7:00 p.m. Any landlord or tenant who has a "year-to-year" cash or crop share farm lease should attend this seminar.

According to Illinois law, landlords and tenants who have a "year-to-year" cash or crop share farm lease on property need to make any changes in the agreement by October 31 of each year. This law applies to changing the amount on a cash lease, changing the type of lease agreement, terminating a lease due to sale of property, or a change in the farming enterprise.

In most regions of Illinois, a year-to-year lease of farmland is presumed to begin on March 1 and end of the last day of February. Therefore, notification of changes in the terms of the lease needs to be given by October 31 – four months prior to the beginning of the farming year.

There are suggestions for wording the written notice to the tenant or landlord, and there is also a procedure for delivering the notification.

Ruth Hambleton, U of I Extension farm business management educator, will facilitate the seminar. Her presentation will be followed by a panel of area farmers who will discuss local practices.

There is a $5 fee (per farm family) to attend the seminar. Advance registration is needed by October 6^th by calling 618/842-3702.